Coles Stikeez can now be recycled and turned into useful mats
Supermarket giant Coles have listened to customer concerns and partnered with an Australian recycler to make sure this year’s range of miniature collectables, Stikeez, will be put to good use.
Parents of picky eaters and socially conscious shoppers alike have reason to rejoice the return of Coles’ popular miniature collectables.
From Wednesday, 24 new Stikeez figurines, based on essential food groups, will be available in stores as part of the Coles Fresh Five Challenge.
Endorsed by Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation, this national healthy eating program allows children to align Stikeez with the food groups they have tried.
Responding to concerns about last year’s environmental impact of the plastic collectables, Coles chief marketing officer Lisa Ronson said they had partnered with Save Our Soles founder John Elliott to make recycling Stikeez easier.
“We wanted to bring this healthy eating program back but in a more sustainable way,” Ms Ronson said.
“Customers can now return unwanted Stikeez back to Coles supermarkets to be recycled. They’re also wrapped in responsibly sourced paper that’s fully recyclable in kerbside recycling bins at home.”
Mr Elliott said the pint-sized toys would be recycled though the same process he has used to recycle footwear in Australia since 2010.
“We have just launched a sporting industry recycling program with the Australia Sporting Goods Association and anticipate that we will save approximately 250,000 pairs of sports shoes going to landfill in 2020,” Mr Elliott said.
“It’s great news that Stikeez can be recycled in the same way. We reduce the product to a 4mm crumb, then mixed with recycled Australian tyres to create products like anti-fatigue mats, gym matting, retail flooring and carpet underlay.”
“I’m excited by all companies thinking about end of life and trying to be more responsible as opposed to just creating a campaign and saying at the end of it, we’re done.”
Originally published as Coles Stikeez can now be recycled and turned into useful mats
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